O Sing, choirs of angels,Sing in exultation,Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.Give to our Father glory in the Highest;O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,Born this happy morning,O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,Christ the Lord.

12.22.2006

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6-7

12.21.2006

Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah! - Revelation 11:15.

12.20.2006

God rest ye merry, gentlemenLet nothing you dismayRemember, Christ, our SaviourWas born on Christmas dayTo save us all from Satan's powerWhen we were gone astrayO tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joyO tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,This blessed Babe was bornAnd laid within a mangerUpon this blessed mornThe which His Mother MaryDid nothing take in scornO tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joyO tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly FatherA blessed Angel came;And unto certain ShepherdsBrought tidings of the same:How that in Bethlehem was bornThe Son of God by Name.O tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joyO tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,"Let nothing you affright,This day is born a SaviourOf a pure Virgin bright,To free all those who trust in HimFrom Satan's power and might."O tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joyO tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidingsRejoiced much in mind,And left their flocks a-feedingIn tempest, storm and wind:And went to Bethlehem straightwayThe Son of God to find.O tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joyO tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to BethlehemWhere our dear Saviour lay,They found Him in a manger,Where oxen feed on hay;His Mother Mary kneeling down,Unto the Lord did pray.O tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joyO tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,All you within this place,And with true love and brotherhoodEach other now embrace;This holy tide of ChristmasAll other doth deface.O tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joyO tidings of comfort and joy

12.19.2006

I too have succumbed to the Christmas knit mania, deciding to inflict (ahem, gift) my knitting onto a loved one. Who and what shall remain undisclosed, as said gift has yet to be finished. Which brings me to...

LAST MINUTE KNIT-IT. This is a disease that we knitters contract. Intentions of pacing a large project out over time start out great, but there is an inner need to put it all off until the last minute. Maybe it's to prove something to ourselves, maybe it's because we spend too much time just fondling and adoring the fiber content of our yarn. So I find myself leaving on a road trip in less than 24 hours in the midst of picking up over 300 stitches. Then having to knit those quite a few times. And finish off the whole deal. Why do I keep telling myself that 15 hours in a minivan with 4 children is more than ample for such a feat? Wake up and smell the diapers!!

Another tell-tale sign of "last minute knit-it" is the overwhelming desire to CAST ON for another project while facing the impossibility of finishing the first project by the due date! Oh yeah, I have a serious form of this malady. Check out these babies! Makes my fingers twitch.The best part: hundreds of tidy cables in hot pink yarn. I'm never wearing shoes again!

[Sung to the tune of "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious"](Another great number from our talent show)

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh...

Chorus:Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiationSpeak your mind against them and face excommunication!Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:"You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!" Oh...

Chorus:Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiationSpeak your mind against them and face excommunication!Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor."Are these your books? Do you recant?" King Charles did demand,"I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!" Oh...

Chorus:Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,By knighting "George" as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.Use Brother Martin's model if the languages you seek,Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh...

Chorus:Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Let's raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,And spread the word that 'catholic' is spelled with lower case;The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh...

Chorus:Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

This is NOT part of the "Christmas song-a-day" routine I have going!I sang this at our church talent show yesterday, and it went over fairly well, us being northerners and all. Besides, at 77 degress today, with our windows all open and short sleeves on, we actually do miss winter!

We've suffered through three months of summerEndured it without a complaint,Though we are true MinnesotansAnd at 80 degrees we feel faint.But now that the leaves are fallingOur spirits are on the reboundNow we wait for that day in NovemberWhen we wake up to snow on the ground.

On that morning we'll put on our parkasAnd enjoy that first winter day,The tree limbs tstark and dramaticThe sky a cold dark gray.The wind picks up and we smile,We laugh at the hard freezing rain.For we are northern peopleAnd we're happier when we're in pain.

Some people complain about winter,The fancy and the effete,The people who play New Age musicThe people who cook with mesquite.The people who use the word "network"And I know that it's not nice to sayBut that is the beauty of winterIt keeps all those people away.

In summer you get the illusionThat life must be gentle and warm,But wisdom comes to us in winterWhen we have to stay home in the storm.When the blizzard comes out of the northwestYou cannot do as you would do.So winter is when nature teachesThat the world is not here to please you.

And so we look forward to winter,And setting some new record lows.There's nothing so good for a personAS the sting of cold air in your nose.We enjoy the long hours of darkness,We enjoy being blasted and chilled.The wonderful thing about suffering is:It helps to relieve our guilt.

We're hardy midswestern people,Not meant for the comfortable life.We're bred to be stubborn and sturdyAnd threive on sturggle and strife.We're happy with forostbitten faces,With ice frozen to our eyelash,With stuff running out of our noses,And freezing on our moustache.

We stand with our long jumper cablesDressed in our snowmobile suits,Wearing our scarves and our mittensAnd gigantic double-lined boots.In summer we're selfish and spoiled,But winter is good for the heart.No matter how cold it is, neighbor,We'll come out and give you a start.

We'll come out and give you a start.We'll come out and give you a start.No matter how cold it is, neighbor,We'll come out and give you a start.

The First Noel, the Angels did sayWas to certain poor shepherds in fields as they layIn fields where they lay keeping their sheepOn a cold winter's night that was so deep.Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelBorn is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a starShining in the East beyond them farAnd to the earth it gave great lightAnd so it continued both day and night.Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelBorn is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same starThree Wise men came from country farTo seek for a King was their intentAnd to follow the star wherever it went.Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelBorn is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwestO'er Bethlehem it took its restAnd there it did both Pause and stayRight o'er the place where Jesus lay.Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelBorn is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men threeFull reverently upon their kneeAnd offered there in His presenceTheir gold and myrrh and frankincense.Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelBorn is the King of Israel!

Then let us all with one accordSing praises to our heavenly LordThat hath made Heaven and earth of noughtAnd with his blood mankind has bought.Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelBorn is the King of Israel!

Feel free to offer corrections (but not expansions!) This was an attempt to explain the origins of denominations in just a few short paragraphs. So it's obviously simplified and generalized...

At the Reformation (1520-1650) the Lutherans began in Germany, following Luther. The Reformed began primarily in France, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Scotland, following John Calvin. In the same European countries, some wanted a more radical break with Rome than Luther and Calvin were doing. These Anabaptists would rebaptize people coming out of the Catholic church (Luther/Calvin would not). Anabaptist is just Greek for "rebaptize." Some of the roots of the Baptists and Congregationalists come from these anabaptists, although they are NOT the same thing, in spite of the close name. (The Amish and Quakers are more direct descendants of the anabaptists.)

In England, the reformation was more political at first, so not much changed from Roman Catholic practice. They just kept doing basically the same thing as Rome, but declared independence from Roman authority. This was the Anglican Church - in America it is the Episcopalians. Others in England wanted to go in Calvin's direction, and usually had to separate from the state Anglican church to do it, as using the prayer book was enforced closely. (The prayer book had/has theology in it that is too Catholic for Protestants). From these Calvinist separatists came the Pilgrims that went to Holland, then to Plymouth on the Mayflower. Both these separatists and the Reformed on the European continent were presbyterian in government.

Later in England, John Wesley came along and stressed personal piety in reaction to the mostly spiritually dead state church. His Methodist Bible studies quickly became a movement in itself. Wesleyans, Congregationalists and Methodists come from this stream. He made many important points and fought for revival well. Argued that being a baptized member of a church doesn't guarantee salvation. An obvious point today, but controversial then, that's how corrupt the church was. On the other hand, Reformed folk tend to say that this pietist stream overreacts and makes our personal devotions into religious works in which they effectively (though they may not realize it or admit it) trust for their salvation, instead of trusting in Christ.

Just type in "Silent Night," and you have your Christmas music for the season - all free! Or any other artist or song you like.

The catches are...1. you need a high-speed internet connection. Dial-up won't work.2. It can't play the exact song you ask for if it is licensed. It will get around to it, but picks song by style, randomly.

5. Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,Who sit in deepest gloom,Who mourn o'er joys departedAnd tremble at your doom.Despair not, He is near you,Yea, standing at the door,Who best can help and cheer youAnd bids you weep no more.

6. Ye need not toil nor languishNor ponder day and nightHow in the midst of anguishYe draw Him by your might.He comes, He comes all willing,Moved by His love alone,Your woes and troubles stilling;For all to Him are known.

7. Sin's debt, that fearful burden,Let not your souls distress;Your guilt the Lord will pardonAnd cover by His grace.He comes, for men procuringThe peace of sin forgiven,For all God's sons securingTheir heritage in heaven.

8. What though the foes be raging,Heed not their craft and spite;Your Lord, the battle waging,Will scatter all their might.He comes, a King most glorious,And all His earthly foesIn vain His course victoriousEndeavor to oppose.

9. He comes to judge the nations,A terror to His foes,A Light of consolationsAnd blessed Hope to thoseWho love the Lord's appearing.O glorious Sun, now come,Send forth Thy beams so cheering,And guide us safely home.

2. Flocks were sleeping, Shepherds keeping vigil till the morning newSaw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:Christ the Babe was born for you.

12.13.2006

Isaiah is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Here are excerpts of particularly moving or meaningful passages, with New Testament connections in parentheses.

Isaiah 24:7-8 (Rev 18:22)The new wine fails, the vine languishes,All the merry-hearted sigh.The mirth of the tambourine ceases,The noise of the jubilant ends,The joy of the harp ceases.

24:14-16They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing;For the majesty of the LordThey shall cry aloud from the sea.Therefore glorify the Lord in the dawning light,The name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.From the ends of the earth we have heard songs:“Glory to the righteous!”

24:21-23It shall come to pass in that dayThat the Lord will punish on high the host of exalted ones,And on the earth the kings of the earth. (Rev 6:15)They will be gathered together,As prisoners are gathered in the pit,And will be shut up in the prison; (Rev 20:3)After many days they will be punished.Then the moon will be disgracedAnd the sun ashamed;For the Lord of hosts will reignOn Mount Zion and in JerusalemAnd before His elders, gloriously. (Rev 4:4)

25:6-9And in this mountainThe Lord of hosts will make for all peopleA feast of choice pieces,A feast of wines on the lees, (John 2:1-10)Of fat things full of marrow,Of well-refined wines on the lees.And He will destroy on this mountainThe surface of the covering cast over all people,And the veil that is spread over all nations.He will swallow up death forever, (1 Corinthians 15:54)And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; (Rev 7:17; 20:14; 21:4)The rebuke of His peopleHe will take away from all the earth;For the Lord has spoken.And it will be said in that day:“Behold, this is our God;We have waited for Him, and He will save us.This is the Lord;We have waited for Him;We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

26:8-9Yes, in the way of Your judgments,O Lord, we have waited for You;The desire of our soul is for Your nameAnd for the remembrance of You.With my soul I have desired You in the night,Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;For when Your judgments are in the earth,The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

26:17-19 - read the right way, this passage shows us Jesus gloriouslyAs a woman with childIs in pain and cries out in her pangs, (Rev 12:2)When she draws near the time of her delivery,So have we been in Your sight, O Lord.We have been with child, we have been in pain;We have, as it were, brought forth wind;We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth,Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Your dead shall live;Together with my dead body they shall arise. (Ephesians 2:5-6)Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; (Eph 5:14)For your dew is like the dew of herbs,And the earth shall cast out the dead.

27:1In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, (Hebrews 4:12; Rev 1:16; 19:15)Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, (Rev 12:3,9)Leviathan that twisted serpent;And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.

12.12.2006

"They who strive to build up firm faith in Scripture through disputation are doing things backwards.... The testimony of the Spirit is more excellent than all reason. For God alone is a fit witness to Himself in his Word, so also the Word will not find acceptance in men's hearts before it is sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit. The same Spirit, therefore, who has spoken through the mouths of the prophets must penetrate into our hearts to persuade us that they faithfully proclaim what has been divinely commanded.... I speak of nothing other than what each believer experiences within himself."

This position emphasizes that we cannot argue logically from a neutral position, proving conclusively the truth for an unbeliever. Without the Spirit's work, they will remain unbelievers (1 Corinthians 2:14). Of course, this doesn't mean we shouldn't provide arguments; just that we shouldn't expect them to go very far without God's softening the heart of the listener (1 Peter 3:15).

Behold the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night,and blest is he whose loins are girt, whose lamp is burning bright;but woe to that dull servant, whom the Master shall surprisewith lamp untrimmed, unburning, and with slumber in his eyes.

Do thou, my soul, beware, beware, lest thou in sleep sink down,lest thou be given o'er to death, and lose the golden crown;but see that thou be sober, with a watchful eye, and thuscry--"Holy, holy, holy God, have mercy upon us."

That day, the day of fear, shall come; my soul, slack not thy toil,but light thy lamp, and feed it well, and make it bright with oil;who knowest not how soon may sound the cry at eventide,"Behold the Bridegroom comes! Arise! Go forth to meet the bride."

12.11.2006

Everyone seems to resent the busyness of the Christmas season - too many parties, cleaning, cards, baking, shopping, cleaning, church programs, feasting, did I mention cleaning?? One friend I recently talked with expressed a desire for PEACE for the season. A worthy goal, but how does one rest in peace with so much activity and little ones scurrying around?

I brainstormed a few ideas for a quick, quiet family time to be worked into each day. With so many "after 5:00" events, perhaps breakfast or another day-time would be best to share some quiet moments with the kids remembering the real meaning of Christmas. These may not all foster peace and quiet, but could become a new family tradition!

1. read a few pages of a book together over popcorn and apples (we are enjoying "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls)

2. sing a few Christmas carols together

3. add an ornament to the tree each day

4. Write a note to a relative or neighbor (or draw a picture for the really wee ones)

In Proverbs, lady wisdom spreads a banquet and calls us to partake. Speaking figuratively from Scripture, it is not only Jesus Himself who calls us to share the banquet, but His bride, the church. The Spirit and the Bride say “Come” (Revelation 22). As we share table fellowship with Him, we are also sharing table fellowship with her. Joined with her, who is joined with Christ, we grow in wisdom.

Women, you prepare many tables, over and over, for your husbands and children. And so our Lord prepares a table before us, week after week. Very often, when everyone sits down, they don’t realize all the work that went into the planning, shopping, cooking, table setting and more. And so we are tempted to ingratitude. And in the same way, we have little idea all that went into the preparation of this feast. We come as little children, unaware of all the preparation. Oh, we have some idea, from Scripture, enough to keep us thankful. From God putting up with the complaining Israelites with their manna, to Jesus crying out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” We get an inkling. Maybe it seems this way for you in some meals, but it is really true that Jesus went through hell to prepare this table for you.

And so respond in faith by lifting the cup of salvation, and calling on Yahweh’s name.

He has brought you to His banqueting table. He has prepared a place for you. His banner over you is love. The Spirit and the Bride say “Come.”

When the king prepared a wedding banquet, but none came, He sought others to come, that there be no empty seats. Be sure you do not despise the feast prepared for you. Honor the host’s preparations. Don’t do so by taking a small piece and making yourself as small and inconspicuous as possible in a corner. Jesus Christ is here rejoicing over you (Isaiah 62:5). Chew on that for a while. Rejoice and glory in Him.

Are you worthy to be here? Not on your own merit. But your Lord has provided you with wedding clothes – Jesus Christ’s own obedience. Express your gratitude to Him by enjoying His presence, by enjoying the feast He has made ready.

Be sure to discern the body of which we partake. First, If you are deliberately out of fellowship with Christ, if you don’t really want to be here, then do not partake. Second, If you are out of fellowship with any member of His body gathered around you, realize that you have 7 days before you will be here again. Prepare for Christ’s arrival. If you are taking delight in the broken relationship, then do not come to this table. Third, If you are out of fellowship with any member of Christ’s Body, the Church universal, gathered elsewhere this morning, beware. Are you taking delight in that break, glad you don’t have to deal with THEM anymore? Then do not come.

Discern the Body in these 3 ways. But none of us is in perfect fellowship with God or our neighbor. If you are saddened by the sin you see remaining, if you truly desire closer fellowship with your Savior and His people, then come, regardless of the sin that tries to hinder you.

He has brought you to His banqueting table. He has prepared a place for you. His banner over you is love.

In 1st century Galilee, when a young man and woman were considering marriage, they would meet with their fathers and a cup of wine would be poured. The young man would take it, hand it to the young lady and say, “This cup is a covenant with my blood.” The lady then took the cup, and had a choice. She could refuse to drink, and the relationship was over. If she took the cup and drank, she engaged herself to the man, and they would later be married.

And so Jesus, during the 3rd cup of the Passover ritual, catches His disciples off guard to say the least, when he holds out a cup of wine to them, and says the same thing a man would when proposing marriage: “This cup is a covenant in My blood.” The question before you is, will you renew this covenant? Most of you, this is not the first time your Bridegroom has given you the cup. But little has changed since the first time. We are still waiting for the wedding; still proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes.

Remember today, what He went through to spread His garment over you (Ruth 3:9), to take you to Himself. Remember with Thanksgiving.

12.10.2006

A wondrous mysteryA wondrous mystery comes to light today:natures are transformed,God has become man.What he was before, he still remains,though garbed in a nature that was never his:Godhead undebasedand undivided.

To a Child CryingTo a child crying in the coldcome three kings to worhsip Him,for this child can bestowkingdoms, life, glory and heaven.

He is born in lowliness,although He is a mighty king.For by decree He comes to usin humility and poverty.For this child crying in the coldcome three kings.

12.08.2006

Good people all, this Christmastime,Consider well and bear in mindWhat our good God for us has doneIn sending His beloved Son.O let us all both sing and prayTo God with love this Christmas Day;In Bethlehem that Christmas mornThere was a blessed Messiah born.The night before that happytide,The noble Virgin and her guideWere long time seeking up and downTo find a lodging in the town.But mark how all things came to pass.From ev'ry door turned back, alas.As long foretold, their refuge allWas but an humble ox's stall.Near Bethlehem did shepherds keepTheir flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;To whom God's angels did appear,Which put the shepherds in great fear."Prepare and go," the angels said,"To Bethlehem, be not afraid;For there you'll find, this happy morn,A princely babe, sweet Jesus born."With thankful heart and joyful mindThe shepherds went the Babe to findAnd as God's angel had foretoldThey did our Savior Christ behold.Within a manger He was laid,And by His side the Virgin MaidAttending on the Lord of LifeWho came on earth to end all strife.

"There are two sins related to this that we must overcome before we can obey the Lord here. The first is the idea, just mentioned, that we have a right to our disagreements so long as they are amicably held. Of course, it is better to be amicable than nasty, but this is still a means to the end. The end is agreement, not agreeable disagreement. An important means to like-mindedness is amicable disagreement, but it must never be mistaken for the end.

The second sin we must fight is the sin of the grievance. A grievance is never mere disagreement. A grievance always has an edge; a grievance is personal; a grievance resents; a grievance imputes motives; a grievance is suspicious; a grievance is an insult to the love of God in Christ."

12.04.2006

1. Masters in this Hall, Hear ye news to-dayBrought from over sea, And ever I you pray:

ChorusNowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell, sing we clear!Holpen are all folk on earth, Born is God's son so dear:Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell, sing we loud!God to-day hath poor folk raised And cast a-down the proud.

2. Going o'er the hills, Through the milk-white snow,Heard I ewes bleat While the wind did blow: Chorus

3. Shepherds many an one Sat among the sheep,No man spake more word Than they had been asleep: Chorus

12.03.2006

"The traditional Reformed view of the Lord's Supper.... differs markedly from memorialism in claiming that Christ is indeed present in His sSUpper. More is involved than a remembrance on the part of the participants....

"The eating of drinking [of Christ, referred to in John 6] is not physical but is nonetheless real and true. Christ does not come down to us in His body and bolood; rather we are lifeted up to Him by the Holy Spirit....

"There is both a real, objective communion in the Lord's Supper and, at the same time, the condition of those who receive it is not incidental or superfluous. We feed on Christ through faith, just as He taught. Just as we need a mouth to receive bread and wine, so we need faith to receive Christ. As Robert Bruce put it, 'As soon as you receive the bread in your mouth (if you are a faithful man or woman) you receive the body of Christ in your soul, and that by faith' (They Mystery of the Lord's Supper, 44)."

On a personal note, it is a tremendous blessing to be partaking of the Supper every week in worship...